Policy News

White House Launches Microbiome Study

The White House recently announced the new National Microbiome Initiative, and multiple federal agencies will contribute a total of $121 million to support this new program. Microbiome refers to the communities of microorganisms that influence almost every process and environment on Earth. For example, the microbiome in the human gut digests food, and research has found that it is influenced by diet and antibiotics. For years, scientists have asked for a widespread, coordinated effort to study microbiomes. Scientists aim to identify healthy microbiomes, and learn how to alter unhealthy ones. See: http://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i21/White-House-announces-microbiome-initiative.html.